joining us is dan balls, author of "collision 2012." dan, thanks so much for joining the program and congrats on the book. >> thank you. glad to be here. >> we are happy to have you. the future of elections in america, after 2012, given the prolonged and insane nature, what do you think each party learned and how do you think it's going to affect 2016? >> you speak of long campaigns, the 2016 campaign seems to be getting under way or there's an appetite for it. one campaign ends and the next begins. they don't necessarily settle the ones we think they should. if you step back, there are two ways to look at it. one is the big forces out there in the country that have a huge effect on the outcome of the elections. in the day-to-day battling of gaffes and the trivial moments, the big forces seem to get relegated backstage, yet they are very important. in 2012, and i think going forward, there are several. one is obviously the change in demographics in the country. it's had a powerful effect on who ends up voting and which party is advantag